AGRI Committee Report

appendix 3
COMPLETE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CFIA RESPONSES

The 12 recommendations and responses formulated in the CFIA’s Lessons Learned Review:  The CFIA’s Response to the 2004 Avian Influenza Outbreak in B.C., and the additional 4 recommendations and CFIA responses that emerged from the Canadian Poultry Industry Forum held on 27-28 October 2004 in Abbotsford, are as follows.

 

CFIA Recommendations and Responses from the Lessons Learned Review

1.	The CFIA should review protocols associated with the activation of local, area and national emergency response teams and formalize the roles and responsibilities, and decision-making accountabilities at each level.

CFIA Response: Activation protocols for the various levels of emergency response are currently being reviewed by the Agency to ensure a nationally consistent approach. The CFIA is also reviewing the structure and function of its area and national emergency response teams to more clearly define the roles, responsibilities and delegated decision-making authorities at all levels. Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada has been invited to participate in this review process. It is anticipated that updated emergency response structures and protocols will be recommended by the spring of 2005.

2.	The CFIA should develop collaborative arrangements with Health Canada and the new Public Health Agency of Canada to increase federal capacity to respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks.

CFIA Response: The CFIA has initiated discussions with Health Canada and the new Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) regarding collaborative arrangements for response to zoonotic disease outbreaks. The Agency will work with both Health Canada and PHAC to develop an updated roles and responsibilities framework and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will include an appendix considering response to zoonotic disease outbreaks, by December 2005. It is expected that this appendix to the MOU will also include protocols for liaising with provincial health authorities.

3.	The CFIA should engage stakeholders in the ongoing development and exercising of FADES plans in all provinces/territories.

CFIA Response: The CFIA is currently developing a common template for FADES agreements which will be used to negotiate and finalize new or revised agreements with all provinces and territories. It is expected that the template will be completed by February 2005 and that consultations with partners and stakeholders will begin in March 2005. A fixed schedule for exercising the agreements will be a mandatory component of all FADES plans.

4.	The CFIA should develop the relevant IM/IT capabilities to ensure more timely and efficient management and transmission of field and laboratory data (including geographic information) during an animal disease response.

CFIA Response: The CFIA will develop and implement an action plan that includes both short-term and longer-term IM/IT solutions to improve information management during emergency response situations. As an interim measure, the Agency has also developed partnerships with other departments and agencies to obtain GIS services.

5.

The CFIA should improve information flow during an emergency response by: Identifying a functional cell within the Agency's emergency response structure to anticipate and manage information needs and reporting; Developing and implementing protocols for the appropriate release of key information (e.g. laboratory results) at both the national and field level; and Addressing information sharing issues through pre-established agreements or protocols.

CFIA Response: Based on the lessons learned from both avian influenza and BSE, the CFIA will be developing options to address information management and sharing issues. Protocols will be developed to improve both internal and external information flow. These protocols will be incorporated into new and updated FADES agreements as appropriate.

6.	The CFIA should review its emergency management approach to incorporate the lessons learned from AI and, where appropriate, best practices used by partner agencies (e.g. Incident Command System).

CFIA Response: The CFIA is currently reviewing the structure and function of its area and national emergency response teams to incorporate lessons learned from both the avian influenza and BSE incidents. Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada has been invited to participate in this review process, which will include an evaluation of the Incident Command System (ICS) approach. It is anticipated that updated emergency response structures and protocols will be recommended by the spring of 2005.

7.	The CFIA should formalize the advance planning function within its emergency management structure and ensure the integration of disease control experts (including public health experts) within this planning cell.

CFIA Response: The CFIA's upcoming review of its emergency management structures and protocols will address the identified need to formalize the Agency's advance planning function during an emergency response situation. The development of a framework with Health Canada and the new Public Health Agency of Canada regarding collaborative arrangements for response to zoonotic disease outbreaks will also help to ensure the integration of public health experts into this planning cell.

8.	The CFIA should clarify the respective bio-safety responsibilities of the Agency and public health authorities in the response to zoonotic disease outbreaks.

CFIA Response: The CFIA will review the applicable occupational health and safety protocols which are designed to ensure the health and safety of CFIA employees and contracted staff. The CFIA will also work with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada to identify and address biosafety issues which impact on the broader community.

9.	The CFIA should encourage the poultry industry's development of bio-security programs.

CFIA Response: The CFIA will assist the poultry industry in their development of biosecurity programs by providing a technical review and assessment of the industry's proposed standards and plans. The Agency will be meeting with representatives of the poultry industry in January 2005 to discuss progress and next steps.

10.	The CFIA should conduct a review of compensation policies under the Health of Animals Act.

CFIA Response: The CFIA is currently preparing to conduct a review of elements of the compensation program, including maximum compensation amounts. It is anticipated that this review will be completed in 2005.

11.	The CFIA should maintain a periodic review process for the schedule of values included in the Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations.

CFIA Response: The CFIA will conduct a review of elements of the compensation program in 2005. Included in this review will be an assessment of the periodic review process for the schedule of values included in the Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations.

12.	The CFIA should review the procedures for providing HR, finance, IM/IT and administrative support to EOCs and develop standard operating procedures to support each of these functions.

CFIA Response: The CFIA's Human Resource and Corporate Services Branches have each initiated reviews of their emergency response support procedures. It is anticipated that both branches will have standard operating procedures in place by the spring of 2005.

Canadian Poultry Industry Forum Recommendations and CFIA Responses

13.	Convene the first animal health/public health forum. (CFIA/Public Health Agency of Canada)

CFIA Response: The CFIA supports this recommendation, and will be initiating discussions early in 2005 with the Public Health Agency of Canada to discuss this forum, develop objectives and proposed outcomes and determine how to organize.

14.	Implement a national AI survey for domestic poultry. Co-ordinate surveillance of wild fowl with the Canadian Wildlife Service. (CFIA/Canadian Wildlife Service)

CFIA Response: The CFIA's development and implementation of a small scale AI surveillance plan is well under way. The expectation is that samples will be collected in the spring of 2005. The development of a longer term plan for the active and ongoing surveillance of the commercial poultry industry is also underway.

The CFIA will be undertaking consultations with the Canadian Wildlife Service, Parks Canada and the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Center to define the potential costs and benefits of wildlife surveillance.

15.	Examine the feasibility of establishing a pre-emptive cull program for suspect cases of AI to limit the potential spread of the disease. (CFIA/Poultry Industry)

CFIA Response: The CFIA will work with industry to examine proposals for pre-emptive slaughter. A preliminary meeting with national poultry representatives is scheduled for January 2005. The CFIA will also investigate vaccination protocols as an alternative to pre-emptive culls.

16.	Develop a national disposal strategy for all livestock species. (CFIA/Livestock Industries)

CFIA Response: The CFIA will continue to work with provincial and territorial governments, AAFC and livestock industries towards the development of a national disposal strategy for all livestock species. Disposal options in all areas of Canada are currently being examined by a federal/provincial/territorial agri-food inspection committee. The findings of this committee will support the development of a national disposal strategy.